Esky woman enters two guilty pleas

February 8, 2013

ESCANABA - A 20-year-old Escanaba woman faces prison after recently pleading guilty to two felonies in connection with a home invasion and the assault of a Bark River man in 2011.

Ashley Marie Stodola appeared in Delta County Circuit Court where she pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion and pleaded guilty to attempted larceny in a building. She also admitted to being a habitual offender, second offense, during Tuesday's plea hearing.

Stodola's sentencing is set for March 15 in circuit court. Second-degree home invasion, as a habitual offender, carries a maximum punishment of 22.5 years in prison. Attempted larceny in a building, as a habitual offender, carries a maximum sentencing of three years in prison.

Stodola is one of three individuals arrested in connection with a scheme to assault and rob a 41-year-old Bark River man on Oct. 22, 2011, in Bark River Township.

Alyna Caryn Brunette, 21, of Escanaba, was sentenced to seven months in the county jail on one count of attempted larceny in a building in connection with the 2011 incident. The judgment was handed down in circuit court on Jan. 24.

Also on Jan. 24, the third co-defendant, Michael Scott Jones, 19, of Escanaba, pleaded guilty to third-degree home invasion. He stated he made plans with Brunette, Stodola and others to break in the house, beat up the victim with bats, and steal his money. Jones admitted he kicked the door down and punched the man in the face.

Jones will be sentenced in circuit court on March 4. Third-degree home invasion carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison. He remains lodged in the county jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

The three defendants were arrested last fall following a year-long investigation by the Michigan State Police Post in Gladstone.